CAB: panel set up to safeguard rights of Arunachal people

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has constituted a consultative committee to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people of the state following the Centre's announcement to enact the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB).

The nine-member panel headed by Home Minister Bamang Felix will meet community based organisations, students' bodies, political parties and other organisations and submit its recommendations to the government, an official order said here on Tuesday.

The recommendations will be based on the provisions of the Constitution and various laws and rules that protect the interests of indigenous people of the state, official sources said.

The state government would present the recommendations to the central government to ensure that adequate provisions are incorporated in CAB to safeguard the interests of the people of the state, the sources said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said on October 1 that Parliament will pass the CAB which will grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after seven years of stay in the country even if they do not possess proper documents.

The indigenous people of the Northeastern states fear that entry of these people will endanger their identity and livelihood.

During a meeting of the North East Democratic Alliance at Guwahati, Shah, also BJP president, had said the concerns of the North Eastern states will be incorporated in the CAB and has sought suggestions on the issue.

Khandu had recently announced to form a consultative committee to safeguard the rights and interest of the indigenous people of the state at a public rally.

Besides the state home minister, other members of the committee are MLAs and state Advocate General Kardak Ete. Secretary (General Administration) Sadhna Deori has been appointed as member secretary of the committee.